Tax Whistleblowing: Both Knowledge and Nuance Needed

Whereas names like Edward Snowden and Bradley/Chelsea Manning (of NSA and Wikileaks fame, respectively) are well known to many Americans, tax professionals are—or should be—aware of who Bradley Birkenfeld is. He is the former UBS employee who secured a whopping $104 million whistleblower award for telling the IRS about his employer’s involvement in helping UBS clients evade their U.S. tax obligations.

This article by Tim McCormally, a director in the Washington National Tax Practice of KPMG LLP, highlights the ethics and risks associated with becoming a tax whistleblower.